Seasons Greetings!

Your entire FOCUS team would like to wish all residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Cllr. John Gibson, James Ludley and Andrew Shields are at your service all year round. With the servere weather Crosby, Thornton and Hightown has seen recently should you have any concerns or issues do not hesitate to get in contact with your team:

manorfocus@gmail.com

With more snow and bad weather expected please do take care on the roads during this festive season...

‘SAVE OUR CHEQUE’ DEMAND SEFTON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Sefton Liberal Democrats are at the heart of a campaign to save the chequebook. The campaign follows last December’s decision by the Payments Council, which acts on behalf of all major high-street banks, to phase out all cheques by 2018. Southport MP, Dr. John Pugh, has called on the Payments Council to reconsider their plans in Parliament.

A private members bill was presented to Parliament, if passed it will require banks to continue to offer a cheque service as long as consumers and businesses want them. The Bill was seconded by Dr. Pugh who commented that: “The decision taken by the Payments Council is shortsighted. They have not come up with an adequate alternative.”

Crosby Area Liberal Democrat activist, James Ludley argues that: “I have had a lot of residents raising their concerns with me about this issue. As it stands the decision will create major problems for elderly, disabled and housebound people who rely on cheques in their everyday lives. A cheque is a secure method of payment for those housebound. They cannot just pop out and use the ‘hole in the wall’.”

A private members bill is a legislative notion outlined by an individual MP. In this instance there is no legislation stopping the banking community from phasing out chequebooks. Mr. Ludley hopes that the Bill will highlight the importance of this issue before the process is begun by the banks.

Mr. Ludley further added: “Charities will also suffer from the abolition of cheques as they rely heavily on donations made by this process, especially those with an elderly supporter base. Not all charities have the resources to take online donations. This is an issue that I strongly oppose and one that I, alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues, will fight hard against.”

JOHN GIBSON URGES PEOPLE TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS

As reported in last Thursday's Crosby Herald:

Local Councillor John Gibson is urging people to check their eligibility for Cold
Weather Payments, a £25 a week payment made when temperatures are forecasted to be 0 degrees and below over seven consecutive days.

Those eligible include older people in receipt of pension credit, in addition to any Winter Fuel Allowance payment. Payments are also made to disabled adults and children, and families with children under 5 who receive an income-related benefit. Those claiming jobseeker's allowance, disability and support allowance may also qualify.

Councillor Gibson is concerned that some people may not even realise that they are entitled to this payment. “Home Heat has estimated that 5.2 million households across the Country last year did not claim their entitlements. This winter looks set to be even colder for longer periods of time, and I am concerned that some older and more vulnerable people will be deterred from putting their heating on for fear they wont be able to afford their heating bills."

"I would urge anybody who wants more information and would like to check their eligibility to contact the Age UK helpline on 0800 169 6565. There are also many people who could also be eligible for free insulation grants and reduced tariffs. Again, if you are unsure of your entitlements please give them a ring on their freephone helpline number.”

Hightown Coastal Path a Mess

The Hightown to Crosby Coastguard Station footpath, since its construction, has become a hot spot for dog walkers, cyclists and joggers alike. However, the lack of litter bins has seen an increase in dog owners bagging their dog’s mess but then leaving on the side of the path. Lib Dem activist, James Ludley, has called for the council to look into ways in which it might fund additional litter bins along the route to alleviate this problem.

Tories join with Labour to ‘Spend! Spend! Spend!’

Elderly and children to suffer from councillors’ extravagance

Sefton Councillors have ignored Britain’s massive deficit

problem and insisted in a multi-million pound spending spree on ‘pet projects’.

By committing millions of pounds of Council Tax payers’ money to the Southport Market and Netherton activity Centre, Tory and Labour councillors are forcing deeper cuts in vital services says Lib Dem councillor John Gibson. “There are many desirable projects which the council could spend money on if we were flush with funds,” says John Gibson, “but now is not the time. “The Lib Dems warned the other parties to stop their ‘Spend! Spend! Spend!’ approach but they would not listen.

Down Your Street

Ultra-local news from your FOCUS Team

Chesterfield Road, Brownmoor Lane:

tackling rubbish left on the paths by school children going to and from school.

The Crescent Shops, Thornton:

action against the litter and working with Thornton Parish Council, residents,

shopkeepers and Ward colleagues on landscaping and making this area safer for

pedestrians, motorists and school children.

Forefield Lane:

Lobbying council and police about car speeding problems.

Larchfield Road:

action towards solving anti-social behaviour and housing problems.

Elmwood Avenue:

Repainting two of the three street name signs.

Little Crosby/Thornton:

action against fly tipping; workinging alongside local farmer.

Blundell Road:

action on potholes in pavement.

Liberal Democrats Cleaning Up Again

Your Lib Dem FOCUS team have done it again!

Councillor John Gibson, a long standing and outspoken campaigner against fly tipping, has been working alongside fellow Lib Dem colleague and Sefton’s Council Leader Tony Robertson after yet more dumping was reported in the Lunt Road area.

Illegal

“Fly-tipping is illegal and needs to be stamped out,” commented John Gibson,

“Quite frankly it’s unacceptable that residents in Thornton and Crosby regularly have to contact their FOCUS team in order to get this issue resolved.

“It is difficult to catch those who are doing the dumping but we are working very closely alongside the environmental services in Sefton to try and end this plight. “The bottom line is it’s dangerous,irresponsible and unsightly.” Your FOCUS team encourage all incidents to be reported by calling the following number: 0845 140 0845.

Andrew Shields - “SAVE LOCAL GREEN BELT"

“Sefton’s green belt is under threat.” The council’s planning department are consulting on increasing the land in the green belt that can be built on. Thousands of houses could be built in the area between Crosby, Thornton, Hightownand Formby. We say “No” to any green belt development and will be campaigning against any development in our countryside.

Hightown Investigation

Hightown Councillor John Gibson, together with activist Andrew Shields,are calling for thorough consultation over the dangerous North End Lane junction of the Hightown/ Formby bypass. In April, Sefton Council approved a sum of £12,000 to commence design on a scheme to reduce collisions at this junction.

“The consultation process is a timely one, all residents and businesses need to be properly consulted,” argues Andrew Shields. “Yet, to close off the junction completely, as the Tories argue, will seriously affect the speed in which emergency services can access Hightown. A knee jerk reaction is not acceptable; all options need to be carefully looked into.”

Thornton Link Gets Green Light

Despite Labour MP Bill Esterson claiming in numerous newspaper
articles and on his website that the Government had ‘axed’ the
Thornton to Switch Island link road - The Coalition has agreed to
fund it.
Councillor John Gibson said: “I am delighted by this news. Local LibDem councillors, residents and Thornton Parish Council have been battling away for decades - and now there is light at the end of the tunnel.”